The relevance of clinical balance assessment tools to differentiate balance deficits

Control of balance is complex and involves maintaining postures, facilitating movement, and recovering equilib rium. Balance control consists of controlling the body center of mass over its limits of stability. Clinical balance assessment can help to assess fall risk and/or determine the underlying reasons for balance disorders. Most functional balance assessment scales assess fall risk and the need for balance rehabilitation but do not differentiate types of balance deficits. A system approach to clinical balance assessment can differentiate different kinds of balance disorders and a physiological approach can determine underlying sensorimotor mechanisms contributing to balance disorders. Objective measures of balanc using computerized systems and wearable inertial sensors can bring more sensitive, specific and responsive balance testing to clinical practice.